May 28, 2012
May 24, 2012
I'm A Great Person. And So Are You.
I think its crazy how so many people always say things like " I don't deserve God's mercy!" or "I don't deserve all that I've been given. " Its like slappin' a label on your face saying you're unworthy. Which is why I personally make an effort to say " I do deserve God's mercy, and I'm worthy of all the wonderful things that come my way."
And you know, the more positive affirmation I give myself, the more wonderful things seem to come my way. Its like I'm one of those dudes on the tarmac with orange cones wavin' good energy my way. Saying, park that plane of happiness right here and pushing all negativity to the side. Only good things are allowed my way.
Because I deserve good things. And so do you.
I don't know when it became a social norm to degrade ourselves publicly. It's not an act of humility so don't fool yourself darling. Posting a picture of yourself in a cute little outfit with a negative comment under the wings "Lookin' rough this morning." Is shameful. How about some honesty. You look good ma, so claim it. "Lookin' hawt today," is a better more positive caption. Claim it. You're wonderful.
When I won a trip to meet a bunch of top notch USA Today reporters in DC, I invited a lonely looking middle age women to come sit at my table and eat breakfast with me. She sat down and complimented me on my dress which happened to be from Good Will. Now lets be honest, I'm a thrifty shopper. I take PRIDE in my shopping skills. I can clean out a store in five minutes flat. Its the only time I use that mental math app in my brain. "ok, 30% off of 10.99 is.."
Et cetera. So when this lady complimented me on my dress, I said, "Oh thanks! I got it from Goodwill! I love a good deal."
Well, guess what.
Lady went on to be our keynote speaker for the morning and she opened with a line about "hiding our true selves from who we want to impress." She even used a little scenario.. "This morning I met a really bright girl and complimented her on her dress. She said, "Oh thanks, Its from Goodwill." and I couldn't look at her the same. Life isn't about admitting you have Goodwill. I know she won't ever again."
FURY. BURNED. MY. SOUL. Everyone else was enthralled with her, but I knew from then on, that I was the kind of girl who was going to go MY OWN WAY in this world and if I wanted to claim where I shopped, I damn well would. I. Like. Good.Will. Still do. And I don't care if you or your hootytooty chanel bagged reporter self cares or not.
But, all attitude aside. It was a good lesson in how to carry myself and pushed me forward to continue doing exactly what I was doing, except more smartly. I am exactly who I am, and I'm not apologizing for it.
Flaws are a relative term that deserve to be finger quotated. Flaws are just what one person sees when they look in the mirror, and if we focus and push energy toward our "Flaws" then that's less time spent admiring and embracing our gifts. So, yea, I'm not gonna worry about it.
We're worthy, when we decide that we are. Its not like Baby Jesus is going to come down from the Heavens with a royal proclamation, "Ashley Brown is now deserving of God's mercy!" and angels applaud and baby horses gallop around me and bunnies pass me handmade cards congratulating me on now being deserving. All we have to do is look in the mirror and embrace ourselves positively.
Quit pulling that negativity toward you with your cry for help attitude. So you fell down, pick yourself up by the bootstraps and keep on keeping on. You deserve God's mercy. And don't let no fool tell you otherwise. Cause its between you and The Lord, and if He's as great as the bible makes him out to be (and I'm 100% sure He is), then he'll agree. You deserve the best life you can make for yourself on this Planet Earth.
At age 21, I've learned that its all how you look at things that makes you who you are. Beyond the cup half full, lemonade out of lemons mantras there is a mindset that few talk about. Those who admit they actually LIKE who they are.
Conspiracy! How dare you like who you are!? Shouldn't we look to others to tell us if we are deserving to be loved and adored by them?! Hell to the no. We have a short time on this planet and its high time my generation grows some self confidence and musters up the guts to say, " I like who I am."
I'll start, "My name is Ashley. And I like me." If you like you, chances are everyone else will too.
And you know, the more positive affirmation I give myself, the more wonderful things seem to come my way. Its like I'm one of those dudes on the tarmac with orange cones wavin' good energy my way. Saying, park that plane of happiness right here and pushing all negativity to the side. Only good things are allowed my way.
Because I deserve good things. And so do you.
I don't know when it became a social norm to degrade ourselves publicly. It's not an act of humility so don't fool yourself darling. Posting a picture of yourself in a cute little outfit with a negative comment under the wings "Lookin' rough this morning." Is shameful. How about some honesty. You look good ma, so claim it. "Lookin' hawt today," is a better more positive caption. Claim it. You're wonderful.
When I won a trip to meet a bunch of top notch USA Today reporters in DC, I invited a lonely looking middle age women to come sit at my table and eat breakfast with me. She sat down and complimented me on my dress which happened to be from Good Will. Now lets be honest, I'm a thrifty shopper. I take PRIDE in my shopping skills. I can clean out a store in five minutes flat. Its the only time I use that mental math app in my brain. "ok, 30% off of 10.99 is.."
Et cetera. So when this lady complimented me on my dress, I said, "Oh thanks! I got it from Goodwill! I love a good deal."
Well, guess what.
Lady went on to be our keynote speaker for the morning and she opened with a line about "hiding our true selves from who we want to impress." She even used a little scenario.. "This morning I met a really bright girl and complimented her on her dress. She said, "Oh thanks, Its from Goodwill." and I couldn't look at her the same. Life isn't about admitting you have Goodwill. I know she won't ever again."
FURY. BURNED. MY. SOUL. Everyone else was enthralled with her, but I knew from then on, that I was the kind of girl who was going to go MY OWN WAY in this world and if I wanted to claim where I shopped, I damn well would. I. Like. Good.Will. Still do. And I don't care if you or your hootytooty chanel bagged reporter self cares or not.
But, all attitude aside. It was a good lesson in how to carry myself and pushed me forward to continue doing exactly what I was doing, except more smartly. I am exactly who I am, and I'm not apologizing for it.
Flaws are a relative term that deserve to be finger quotated. Flaws are just what one person sees when they look in the mirror, and if we focus and push energy toward our "Flaws" then that's less time spent admiring and embracing our gifts. So, yea, I'm not gonna worry about it.
We're worthy, when we decide that we are. Its not like Baby Jesus is going to come down from the Heavens with a royal proclamation, "Ashley Brown is now deserving of God's mercy!" and angels applaud and baby horses gallop around me and bunnies pass me handmade cards congratulating me on now being deserving. All we have to do is look in the mirror and embrace ourselves positively.
Quit pulling that negativity toward you with your cry for help attitude. So you fell down, pick yourself up by the bootstraps and keep on keeping on. You deserve God's mercy. And don't let no fool tell you otherwise. Cause its between you and The Lord, and if He's as great as the bible makes him out to be (and I'm 100% sure He is), then he'll agree. You deserve the best life you can make for yourself on this Planet Earth.
At age 21, I've learned that its all how you look at things that makes you who you are. Beyond the cup half full, lemonade out of lemons mantras there is a mindset that few talk about. Those who admit they actually LIKE who they are.
Conspiracy! How dare you like who you are!? Shouldn't we look to others to tell us if we are deserving to be loved and adored by them?! Hell to the no. We have a short time on this planet and its high time my generation grows some self confidence and musters up the guts to say, " I like who I am."
May 23, 2012
Sunshine!
 |
| The typical weather in Scotland. |
 |
| The weather lately and how me and all the Scottish people are reacting. Its dancetime. |
People were laying out around me in the courtyard praising the sunshine and I was just part of the game. I have never appreciated sunshine so much. I will never live anywhere without it ever again!
THANK YOU GOD FOR SUNSHINE!
May 22, 2012
The Flat.
Living in a household of Eastern Europeans has brought forth several revelations. 1. Never underestimate the power of sour cream, 2. Techno can be blared 24 hours and everyone will still keep dancing and 3. Lock your door, cause no one is going to knock before entering!
Despite the techno migraines and the sour cream infested refrigerator, I've grown partial to the girls in my flat. They've provided a very alternative view to how to live life. I've learned how to stretch a pound fifty different ways. The first week I was here my Latvian roommate took me under her wing and showed me where I can get bruised fruits and dented cans for 1/4 the regular price. She advised me to purchase stomach medicine also, because sometimes "you feel ill after these groceries." But I learned that that's a way of life for many people.
My roommates are very worldly. We're a mix of Latvian, Lithuanian, Chinese, German, Canadian and finally American. One thing I've come to realize out of my conversations with all of them, is that while they disagree on most everything, they do agree on one thing- That America is very dangerous.
Their views of the United States is that of a Grand Theft Auto Video Game. In fact, I'm sure that's where their views came from. They've probably been watching too many Quentin Serentino films or Die Hard I, II and III. Regardless, I gave up the fight of convincing them that I come from a safe country when I heard the Chinese telling a group of girls about how "people get shot for nothing!" in America. According to her, they love to shoot women in America. She's never been to the USA, but her views are adamant and she even confessed she was afraid to come over. Okay..
Tonight I went to fill up my glass with some water in the dark kitchen when across the room I saw a face turn around and stare at me. After a six second screaming session and jumping up and down I realized it was just the Lithuanian who had decided to take a nap in the dark kitchen. She started screaming too because my screaming scared her. Have you ever had someone turn around and look at you in a dark room when you thought you were all alone. I was so terrified. It was pretty funny.
As my final days loom in the distance, everything here has turned magical like a Hello Kitty poster. Everything looks like pink cotton candy in comparison to how it looked about three weeks ago when I was passportless, Greece-less and cold. Now the heat's turned up to a scalding 65 degrees, the diner across the street is selling milkshakes and people are just being the dandiest.
Until then, I'll keep on with my Hello Kitty daydream rainbowified Scotland experience!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)